Donate Blood

What to expect

Giving blood is safe and easy. BloodSource follows strict national guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in everything we do. Sterile, disposable needles are used only once for each donation and the only blood you are exposed to is your own. The safety of our donors and the patients receiving blood is our top priority.

Donation at a Glance

Whether you give whole blood or are an automated donor, the donation process begins with an appointment at your nearest BloodSource Donor Center or BloodSource blood drive. Bring a photo ID such as your driver license or employee ID card, drink plenty of fluids and avoid oily/fatty foods 24 hours before donating. Donors giving platelets will be asked not to take aspirin-containing products 48 hours before donation.

When you arrive, you can expect:

A 20- to 30-minute registration/medical history interview where you provide your name, address, date of birth and phone number. You will need to show your photo ID.

We’ll ask a series of confidential questions to ensure that you are eligible to give blood, and that your donation is safe for the patients who will receive your blood.

Your temperature, blood pressure and blood count will be checked a donor evaluator.

You’ll be escorted to a donation chair and prepared for your donation type, either whole blood or automated donation.

Whole Blood

A BloodSource blood collections professional will draw about a pint of blood from your arm, which takes approximately 5-7 minutes.

After your donation, we offer a variety of beverages and snacks to help replenish your fluids. We encourage you to rest and relax for 10-15 minutes to ensure you’re ready to get back to your day.

Automated Donation

Because patient needs change daily, we'll let you know what blood components are most needed. Based on your interview results and blood type, you'll learn what your potential gift can be.

A BloodSource blood collections professional will connect you to the automated machine to draw the needed components and return the rest of your blood to your body. You may receive fluids, such as sterile saline solutions (i.e., salt water that has been manufactured for intravenous use), to ensure your blood volume remains at a safe level. The donation process can take between 2 and 3 hours, and we have a great selection of movies to watch while you save lives!

After your donation, we offer a variety of beverages and snacks to help replenish your fluids. We encourage you to rest and relax for 10-15 minutes to ensure you’re ready to get back to your day.

Schedule an appointment to give blood at one of our convenient BloodSource Donor Centers located throughout Northern and Central California.